Bearing device for penknives



Nov. 5, 1929 H WJGUTTZEIT 1,734,126

BEARING DEVICE FOR PENKNIVES F'iied July 22, 1925 '7 I fZlzfiufumvrok v "M04 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 5, 1929 sates Application. filed July 22} My invention relates to an improvement in a bearing insert for opposing the wear between a spring and a movable coactin g member, whereby to overcome the destructive or wearing action of one against the other.

The invention is particularly applicable to use with pen knives or similar devices in which a movable blade or other element is opened or closed, or moved from one position to another, under the holding or friction eX- erting action of a. spring, to maintain the blade in any desired position.

In the accompanying drawings showing one adaptation of the invention:

Figure 1 is the longitudinal sectional view of a pen knife, utilizing the invention.

Figure 2 is a partial similar View showing the blade adjusted to a different position.

Figure 3 is a detailed view of one end of the spring, showing the bearing insert.

Figure l is a cross section on the line IVIV of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the insert, detached.

Figure 6 is a view showing a modified construction providing for application of the insert to the blade.

As is well understood, the friction of one metal against another of the same physical characteristics or similar as to hardness. etc., is rapidly destructive of the wearing faces. For such reason, it is desirable to oppose a metal of any particular wearing value, hardness, or temper, with a resisting metal acting as a bearing, of different physical characteristics.

This is particularly true in connection with the manufacture of knives, cutlery, or the like, made of stainless steel. In such cases great difiiculty is usually experienced, because of the wearing and grinding effect on the steel at the point or area where the surface of the spring of a pen knife for instance, comes into contact with the blade member. Where the knife blade is made of all plain carbon steel, such wearing and grinding effect is not especially noticeable, but when both the spring and the blade are made of stainless steel, it has heretofore been found impossible to eliminate the wearing and grinding ac- OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOR PENKNIVES 1925. Serial No. 45,259.

tion, where the contacting surfaces of the blade and spring are respectively ofsuch material.

In the manufacture of cutlery, stainless steel is particularly desirable. I overcome the suggested difficulty or objection by interposing between the relatively movable and stationary memberv as the blade and the spring, an insert of a bearing material having different physical characteristics from that of the element against which it bears.

In the drawings, showing the application of the invention to an ordinary pocket knife, the blade 2 is pivoted at 3 in the usual way between the sides 4 of the handle, between which at one side is the usual holding spring 5, held by one or more rivets 6. j

The hinged end of the blade 2 is of usual standard construction adapting it to be held in an erected or closed position by the action of the spring 5, bearing against the end corner or upper or side edge of the hinged portion the blade as will be readily understood; For the purpose of overcoming the undesirable friction and resulting wear, I insert in the bearing face of spring 5, a separate bearing piece 7 of suitable material adapted to best.

oppose the constant wear with the blade Inemher. As shown, such insert is of dovetail form, inserted in a corresponding receiving socket in the blade as shown, and extending across from one side to the other of the spring. Conversely, the insert 7 may be in the same way, placed in the end or adjacent edge portion of the blade, as in Fig. 6, so that'with either construction,there is always present, a bearing contact between the metals of different physical characteristics.

, The invention may, of course, be applied to a single blade knife at one end only, or at both ends, in the case of a two or plural blade construction.

The particular material of which the insert is made is immateriahso long as it provides the desirable condition of opposing against the steel blade, or a blade of socalled stainless steel, an inserted bearing member of a different kind.

Thus, the insert may be made of hard manless steel of ver much greater hardness than that of the bla e itself, or a piece of quartz, etc. When the bearing insert is located in the blade, it makes contact with the comparatively softer spring 5, so that the desired conditions in either case are present.

It will be understood that the shape, size, proportions or other details of the insert, or the knife, or other article with which it is embodied, may be variously changed or modified by the skilled mechanic, to adapt the invention to various conditions of use; but that all such changes, are to be understood as within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

' Y1. A pocket knife blade, a tang on one end of said blade having a pivotal supporting portion on said tang, in combination with a bearing portion on the extremity of said tang, said bearing portion comprising bearing metal,

7 both said tang and bearing portion having lugs on their adjoining edges, the lugs on the a bearing portion and the lugs on the tang having interlocking engagement, respectively, with each other, said tang and bearing portion being substantially co-extensive as to width and thickness.

2. A steel pocket knife blade, a tang on one end of said blade having a pivotal supporting means on said tang, in combination with a bearing portion on the extremity of said tank, said bearing portion comprising bearing metal, the bearing portion being fixedly secured to the extremity of the tang, the adj oining exterior edges and sides of said tang and bearing portion being substantially co-planar.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

CHARLES W. GUTTZEIT. 

